Judge overturns Arizona law barring Planned Parenthood funding

(Reuters) - A federal judge has overturned an Arizona law that sought to block funding through the state for Planned Parenthood's healthcare clinics because the group also performs abortions.

U.S. District Court Judge Neil Wake ruled that the controversial measure signed into law last May by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, unlawfully robs individuals on Medicaid of the ability to choose healthcare services.

"The Arizona Act violates the freedom of choice provision of the Medicaid Act precisely because every Medicaid beneficiary has the right to select any qualified health care provider," Wake ruled in a decision released on Friday.

Wake had put the Arizona law on a temporary hold in October following a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood, blocking the state from cutting off Medicaid funding for family planning and health services by the organization and other groups performing abortions.

9. Whoops

Republicans tried the same gambit in Indiana and had the same outcome. Ex-gov Daniels assured us that there were plenty of "alternatives" to Planned Parenthood too when he signed the law, except his Administration couldn't really provide any (and last time I checked, "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" don't count).